Colts Veteran Defender Named Potential Trade Target

ESPN labeled fourth-year safety Julian Blackmon as a possible trade target for other NFL teams ahead of the trade deadline.

The Indianapolis Colts are in an interesting spot with a week left until the NFL trade deadline. 

With a below .500 record and starting quarterback Anthony Richardson out for the rest of the season, the Colts can't really be considered true contenders. However, the team probably shouldn't have a full-blown fire sale either since they are only one game out of the final AFC wild card spot.

ESPN's Stephen Holder walked that narrow tightrope for Colts general manager Chris Ballard when he identified safety Julian Blackmon as a potential trade chip for an article on Tuesday.

"If the Colts got a substantive offer for their playmaking safety, they'd have to consider it, given the presence of 2022 third-round pick Nick Cross," Holder wrote. "The team is looking for opportunities to get Cross on the field as a third safety because it likes his upside. He has started to grab the eyes of coaches after a slow start as a rookie last season. 

"Blackmon, meanwhile, is in the final year of his rookie contract."

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Cross started the first two games of his career to begin the 2022 season. However, after Week 2 last year, he played just six more defensive snaps. This year, Cross has played 10 snaps on defense.

That isn't really an indication that the Colts are trying to find Cross more playing time. However, if what Holder reported is true, then trading Blackmon would open up a spot for Cross to see more snaps on defense.

Indianapolis, though, possesses a very young secondary. Losing Blackmon, who has started 38 games in his career, would be far from ideal for the 2023 Colts. Blackmon has already tied career highs with 50 combined tackles, 4 tackles for loss and 2 interceptions this season. He also has 3 pass defenses.

But Blackmon will be a free agent at the end of the season. If the Colts lose in Week 8 to fall further out of the playoff picture and then receive an offer for Blackmon that includes a nice package of draft picks, it would make sense for Indianapolis to pull the trigger on a trade.

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